PADME Bénin

What PADME Bénin does

PADME Bénin — formally Société pour la Promotion et l'Appui au Développement des Micro-Entreprises (PADME S.A.) — is a Benin-headquartered, BCEAO-regulated decentralized financial system (SFD) and one of the country's principal microfinance institutions. Founded in September 1993 as a government project to fill the gap left by failed state banks under the Structural Adjustment Program, it transitioned to a Law 1901 association in 1997, was placed under provisional administration in November 2016, and was converted to a Société Anonyme between 2020 and 2022, receiving its operating license from the Minister of Finance in May 2022. The company is led by Director General Christel Gundewe YEBE and employs 214 staff from its headquarters at C/226 F-Jéricho, Cotonou.

PADME's core business is microfinance: collecting deposits (sight savings, savings plans, and term deposits of 4–8%) and disbursing credit to micro-enterprises, low-income individuals, agricultural promoters, trained artisans, youth aged 15–30, and vulnerable populations. It operates an ordinary credit book for income-generating activities alongside a substantial partnership book administered on behalf of government programs — FNDA (subsidized agricultural credit at 2% with 50% guarantee), ProDIJ (youth inclusion), MCM Alafia (microloans of 30,000–100,000 FCFA for vulnerable populations), ARCH (artisan financing), PDPIM (Sharia-compliant Mourabaha/Moudaraba/Salam products), and ARESS/GIZ (solar equipment). Complementary products include the NFC-based daily tontine "Tontine MIVO," NSIA-distributed funeral and pension insurance, and mobile money transfers, all accessible via a mobile app and online self-serve portal.

Since inception, PADME has disbursed over 51,824 loans totaling more than 21.2 billion FCFA, with 620 active loans and an outstanding portfolio of 23.97 billion FCFA as currently disclosed. Distribution relies on a national network of regional agencies and zone offices spanning Benin's 12 departments, augmented by digital channels. Revenue derives primarily from interest on microcredit (rates from 4% on MCM Alafia to 12% on standard FNDA products), savings float income, tontine commissions, insurance distribution commissions, and money transfer fees. PADME also engages in national financial inclusion events (SeNaMif, JNIF, SNAB, GFAS) and has an active APDP data-protection registration, indicating baseline regulatory compliance maturity.

Name

PADME Bénin

Legal name

La Société pour la Promotion et l'Appui au Développement des Micro-Entreprises (PADME S.A.)

Website

https://padme.bj

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PADME Bénin is a BCEAO-regulated microfinance institution offering savings, credit, tontine, insurance, and money transfer services to micro-enterprises, low-income individuals, farmers, artisans, and youth across Benin's 12 departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfinance

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered (6036)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural & Rural Microfinance (FSAKAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

Keywords

• Microfinance services
• Microcredit loans
• Savings deposits
• Financial inclusion
• Agricultural financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Cotonou

HQ country

Benin

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Microcredit: PADME generates primary revenue through interest charged on microloans to micro-enterprises and individuals. Interest rates vary by product: 4% for MCM Alafia (6 months), up to 12% for standard FNDA products.
2. Savings Deposits: Collection of deposits from customers including sight savings (EAV), savings plans, and term deposits (DAT), generating float income.
3. Tontine MIVO: Daily savings tontine product with commission of one deposit taken from first collection, capped at 10,000 FCFA for deposits >= 10,000 FCFA.
4. Insurance Products Distribution: Distribution of insurance products (NSIA funeral assistance, pension/retirement) through partnership with insurance providers, earning commission on sales.
5. Money Transfer Services: Mobile money transfer services providing transaction fees from cross-border and domestic remittances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PADME Bénin is a licensed decentralized financial system (SFD) that provides microfinance services to micro-enterprises and vulnerable populations in Benin. Its core offerings include ordinary credit products (individual and group microloans for income-generating activities and consumer loans), partnership credit products underwritten through government programs (FNDA, ARCH, ProDIJ, MCM Alafia, PDPIM), savings products (épargne à vue, plan épargne, DAT), the Tontine MIVO daily savings scheme, insurance distribution (NSIA funeral and pension products), and mobile money transfer services.

Product overview

PADME Benin operates as a decentralized financial system (SFD) offering a unified suite of microfinance products and services. Its core offerings include ordinary credit products (individual and group loans for income-generating activities and consumer loans) and partnership credit products administered on behalf of government programs (ARCH, ARESS, FNDA, MCM Alafia, PDPIM, ProDIJ). On the savings side, the company provides demand deposits (Epargne à vue), savings plans, and term deposits (DAT) alongside its proprietary daily savings scheme Tontine MIVO. Supplementary services include insurance products (NSIA funeral assistance and pension plans), mobile money transfers, a credit simulator tool, and a mobile application. The company distributes through a network of regional branches and zone offices across Benin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Produits de crédit ordinaires (Ordinary Credit Products) Microcredit products financing Income Generating Activities (AGR) — working capital, project financing, and investment — offered individually or through solidary guarantee groups; includes consumer loans for public or private sector employees offered individually to PADME customers in Benin.
• Produits de crédit en partenariat (Partnership Credit Products) Credit products administered in partnership with government programs and international organizations: ARCH (artisan financing of 100,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA), ARESS (solar equipment financing with GIZ/CIDR Pamiga), FNDA (agricultural development fund: 2.5M–20M FCFA, subsidized 2% rates with up to 50% guarantee), MCM Alafia (microcredit 30,000–100,000 FCFA at 4–8% via FNM), PDPIM (Sharia-compliant rice/cereal financing), and ProDIJ (youth employment and vocational training support).
• Epargne (Savings Products) Three savings products for PADME customers in Benin: Epargne à vue (demand savings account, 2,500 FCFA minimum opening, 3.5% annual interest, no maintenance fees), Plan épargne (savings plan), and Dépôt à terme / DAT (term deposits with 50,000 FCFA minimum, 4–8% interest depending on amount and duration, minimum 6-month term).
• Tontine MIVO Proprietary daily savings tontine scheme in which clients make daily contributions (minimum 300 FCFA/day) over a predefined period, with monthly withdrawal periodicity. Membership is free and includes a complimentary NFC card; renewal of the NFC card costs 1,000 FCFA. PADME retains a commission of one deposit taken from the first collection, capped at 10,000 FCFA for deposits of 10,000 FCFA or more.
• Offres produits d'assurances (Insurance Products) Insurance products distributed by PADME as an authorized agent of NSIA Assurances, including NSIA Assistance Funérailles (funeral assistance / NAF) and pension/retirement products, offered to PADME customers through the institution's agency network in Benin.
• Transferts d'argent (Money Transfers) Mobile money transfer services enabling PADME customers to send and receive funds domestically and across borders, providing transaction fees from cross-border and domestic remittances as part of PADME's integrated financial services portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 51,824 loans disbursed totaling over 21.2 billion FCFA
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FNDA (Fonds National de Developpement Agricole)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPADME signed convention with FNDA to finance agricultural sector. FNDA provides subsidized credit rates (2% annually vs 12% market rate) for agricultural promoters. FNDA guarantee covers up to 50% of loan amount. Covers short, medium, and long-term agricultural credit from 2.5M to 20M FCFA.
• ProDIJ (Projet pour l'Insertion des Jeunes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment youth employment project implemented by FNM. PADME administers 200,000 FCFA subsidies for youth aged 15-30 and provides financial inclusion services. Four-year program duration for economic inclusion of underemployed youth with low education.
• MCM AlafiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment microcredit initiative for vulnerable populations implemented by FNM. PADME administers microloans from 30,000-100,000 FCFA at subsidized rates (4-8%). Provides economic inclusion pathway for extreme financially excluded populations.
• ARCH (Appui a la Formation Professionnelle)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment artisan training program through which PADME provides financing (100,000-2,000,000 FCFA) to artisans who received vocational training. Targets artisans in various trades and crafts seeking to start or develop businesses.
• PDPIM (Projet de Developpement de la Production Rizicole)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment rice production project implemented by FNM. PADME provides Sharia-compliant financing (Mourabaha, Moudaraba, Salam) for rice, cereals, fruits and vegetables production in Borgou and Collines departments. Covers 18 communes across 5 agricultural development poles.
• ARESS (GIZ Programme GBE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GIZ Programme GBE and CIDR Pamiga technical assistance for solar equipment financing. PADME provides financing for agricultural solar equipment (pumps and refrigerators) to improve productivity for rural populations.
• NSIA AssurancesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance product distribution partnership. PADME distributes NSIA insurance products including funeral assistance (NSIA Assistance Funerailles NAF) and pension/retirement products through its network as authorized agent.
• FNM (Fonds National de la MicroFinance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational microfinance fund implementing multiple government financial inclusion programs. PADME serves as implementing partner for MCM Alafia, ProDIJ, and PDPIM programs administered through FNM.
• ANPE (Agence Nationale Pour l'Emploi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational employment agency responsible for training youth beneficiaries of ProDIJ program. ANPE selects and trains youth who then receive PADME financing and FNM subsidies for business development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• COOPEC Ahondo (Cooperative d'Epargne et de Crédit): Cofina Group operates COOPEC networks and adjacent SME lending vehicles across West Africa including Benin. Comparable as a regional microfinance and SME credit competitor with overlapping customer segments and WAEMU regulation.

Broad incumbents

• ProCredit Bank West Africa: ProCredit operates commercial banks across West Africa targeting SMEs and micro-businesses with formal banking services. Comparable in target segment (micro and small enterprises) and WAEMU geography, but serves a more formal/semi-formal slice of the market than PADME.
• Ecobank Benin: Ecobank is a pan-African commercial bank with a strong Benin presence offering SME and consumer credit alongside deposit products. Comparable as a competitor for deposits and SME credit in Benin, though operating a much broader commercial banking portfolio than PADME.

Direct peers

• ACEP Senegal: ACEP is a Senegal-based microfinance group serving micro-entrepreneurs and very small enterprises with credit and savings products. Directly comparable in mission, customer profile, and WAEMU regulatory framework, though geographically focused on Senegal.
• ACFB (Association des Caisses de Financement à la Base): ACFB operates a network of cooperative microfinance points across Benin, serving informal-sector borrowers with savings and credit products. Directly comparable in business model, regulatory category (SFD), and target micro-enterprise clientele.
• Advans Banque Côte d'Ivoire: Advans is a leading microfinance bank with operations across West and Central Africa, serving micro and small enterprises with credit and savings products. Comparable as a regulated microfinance institution operating in adjacent WAEMU markets with similar customer profiles.
• Baobab (formerly Microcred) Senegal: Baobab is a digital-first microfinance institution serving West African small businesses and entrepreneurs. Comparable in target segment (micro-enterprise), product mix (credit + savings + mobile), and WAEMU regulatory environment, though operating in Senegal rather than Benin.
• FECECAM Benin: FECECAM is one of Benin's largest microfinance cooperatives with a national network focused on rural and agricultural lending. Directly comparable to PADME as a Benin-headquartered SFD serving informal micro-enterprises and smallholder farmers.
• RENAPEC Benin: RENAPEC is a Beninese microfinance institution providing savings and credit to micro-entrepreneurs, with overlapping coverage of similar customer segments (traders, artisans, smallholder farmers). Direct microfinance competitor within the same Cotonou-regulated BCEAO framework.

Emerging players

• MTN Mobile Money Benin (Moov Money): Mobile money operators in Benin (MTN MoMo and Moov Money) compete with PADME for low-value deposits and small transfers, and increasingly offer microcredit. Comparable as an emerging channel that reaches the same underbanked informal customer base through a digital-first model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/padme-b%C3%A9nin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PADME Bénin